Improvement in propelling canal-boats



Letters Patentl No. 109,248, dated November 15, 1870; antedeted November 3, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN PROPELLING, CANAL-BOATS.

The Schedule xeferredto in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES REID,'of Catskill, in

the `county of Greene and State of New York,have

invented and made a new and useful Improvement in Propelling Canal-Boats; and the following is declared to be a correct description thereof.

In'propelling or towing canal-boats diliioulty is experienced, when paddle-wheels or propellers arc employed, because the action of the paddles causes the banks to be washed, there being commotion in the water by the passing boats, to which is added the agitation from the propelling mechanism.

Various efforts have been made to propel such boats by stationary power, but the same is expensive aud difeult to keep in repair. A chain or wire rope has also beenemployed, the same being lifted from the bottom of the canal and then allowed to fall into the water. This latter device is diflicult to operate, because either two chains have to be employed or else the chain has to be dropped by one of the tow-boats in passing another, and then picked up again, besides, being constantly exposed alternately to the atmosphere and to the water, it becomes rusty, and the ln'echanisnris kept more or less wet from the, chain.

lliy'invention is designed to overcome all the difcnlties that have heretofore been experienced, and cousists in a chain suspended above the canal, as the igesistance against which a wheel upon the canal-boat or tow-boat acts so as to give propulsion when the said wheel is rotated by competent power on the said boat.

In the drawing l have shown, in Figure 1, a cross-section of the canal, illustrating the improvement, and in v Figure 2, a side view of the device I employ for moving the boat.-

The chain ais snspendedfrom the gallows-i'ame or post b, by means of a vertical rod, c, or chain, so that a limited amount of rising and falling movement may be allowedto the chain, in or-der that it may rest upon the chain-wheel d, and allow for variations in the heightof such chain-wheel, according to the imm-ersion or draught of the boat.

' The wheel d is made with cavities in its periphery or projecting lugs adapted to taking thechan, so that when the wheel d is revolved by competent power,

the canal or tow-boat is propelled by this means at whatever speed the power exerted will produce.

rlhe support or suspending device c may be'of any desired character that will allow of the necessary rise and fall of the chain as the wheel cl passes along bcncath the chain.

NVbere a wire rope is employed in place of a chain the same is to be grasped between two horizont-al wheels upon vertical axles, and to one r both of these a yielding pressure is to be employed so as .to grasp said rope, and the power is to be ,applied to revolve one or both of' these wheels, as illustrated inthe de;v

tached view, Figure 3.

Ido not claim a chain or rope that is allowed. to fall into the water and restnpon the bottom of' the canal.

I claim as my invention- A chain or wirerope suspended above the canal by suitable posts or supports', in substantially the manner specified, so that it may be acted upon bya wheel upon the canal-boat, and the suspending device will not prevent the action of suchwheel on the chain or rope, as specified.

Signed by me this 23d day of March, A. D. 1870.

JAMES REID.

Witnesses:

CEAS. H. SMITH, Y GEO. T. PINCKNEY. 

